HappygoSusan

153
Susan

I hope you can afford therapy. Because I think you need it.
BTW, I'm American, too. But I never calculated my value in terms of how many men I've slept with.

They may also consider comorbidities like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc. I wouldn't worry about it until your surgeon gets feedback from the insurance company.

I am finally in the 30's with my BMI, 39.8, and excited. So not sure if that is or is not an NSV, but I'll take it. I know I post how slow my weight loss is, and still feeling it could be better, but excited BMI is in the 30's. I think when I first started, May 2014 my BMI was 49. I did my 6 month requirement for the insurance, which finished in Nov 2014, but had a work injury on my knee and fractured my wrist, so took a break from the program, then started up again April 2015 and finally had the surgery 8/3. Thanks to everyone for their responses, and I love reading these posts and everyones experiences.

I'm with cowgirljane. I cook one meal for my family of 6. Protein, veggie and side. I make sure to feed my family healthy foods. Now, my husband is 6'7" & 420 pounds. He was not initially happy about my changes in meals choices but he's a big boy and can fix his own food if he doesn't appreciate my efforts. My children eat what cook...period. I'm almost 2 years out and I think my husband has fixed his own meal twice in that time. Healthy can be delicious too! Try new recipes and get your family on board. Stop working so hard. I'm sure they'd enjoy spending that extra time with you instead.

I don't get it. Our family meals are a Protein, side like rice or potato, vegetables and salad. I skip the side but rest of family has some of everything and we are all happy. I am a few years out though.

152.4
Susan

I think about this a lot.
There are definitely men who like big women!!!!! No doubt about it. If they were hitting on you it was for a reason and probably a good one. That stuff is in your head- those guys wanted you.
But the fact is, most men don't go for big women. Since I've lost weight, it's incredible the amount of attention I get from men. Everywhere I go. One dude walked into a pole over me! I online date and I get bombarded, whereas when is was just 30 pounds heavier it wasn't nearly as common for me to get a date. At this weight I can go out with anyone I want. Men drool over me.
That said, I believe that partly it's a cultural thing. I think sexually men prefer curves. But socially, they like the arm candy of a thin girl. Thinness is praised in our society as signaling success and strength. Being overweight is viewed as a sign of weakness, laziness and poor health.
Then again, I as a woman like a man to be bigger than me. I like to feel little. Isn't it likely the opposite for men that they like a woman to be small so that they feel large and manly?
There is no denying most men prefer slender and/or athletic. They are looking for someone healthy to mate with, have babies, etc. they want to have some arm candy to show off. It's human nature.
There is also no denying there are exceptions to the rule. A lot of men like heavy girls! They are out there! So if a guy is hitting on you, believe him. Especially if he is doing it in public in front of his buddies. He likes you.
One more thing: so much of how attractive we are comes down to how we carry ourselves. When I was overweight I was not an ugly woman. I've never been ugly. But how I carried myself was. I didn't dress up, I didn't wear nice clothes, I didn't shine from the inside. I was grumpy and morose and looked like I hated life.
I've know large woman who glow and live up their looks and own it. And they are damn hot!!!! I find overweight woman to be extremely sexy when they rock their looks and love themselves. So sexy.
So much if it comes down to how we feel within.

I got below goal last challenge and it's already bounced up some. Let's see what we can accomplish this time!
CW 152.6
GW 150
Susan

Count me in!
Susan

They use something like this in Britain. If you watch Fat Doctor on Hulu, the surgeon uses it in patients who need to get to a lower weight to safely have other WL surgeries.
Susan

I haven't had the surgery yet but every youtube journey I have watched and every blog I read, they have loose skin. Some have more than others but I think it's inevitable. The more weight you have, the more skin needed to be stretched. I was concerned about it in the beginning but I figured if I'm healthier and smaller, saggy skin doesn't seem so bad.

It'd be awesome to set up a meet up with all of us in Colorado Springs. There aren't many considering this is one of the fittest cities in the country. I'd love to meet you guys. Let me know if you're up for it.

Hi everyone! I have been reading all of the posts here and have a few comments. This surgery has taught me so much about myself both good and not so good. I have learned I had many misconceptions as an overweight person.
As being overweight people, for some of us, such as myself, all my life, we have gone through enough torture about our weight. The idea of weight loss surgery at least in my opinion was to be free of that torture! Yet, having weight loss surgery didn't remove the constant worry. It really takes work to achieve and then maintain a weight loss goal with or without surgery. This is something that caught me off guard. I didn't expect it to be consistent work. But what I have learned in the 1 and 7 months since my surgery is that everyone has to work at maintaining their weight. That was a shocker for me. What I hear in these posts is that disappointment in not achieving a goal or a specific number. This is one of the reasons I am very,very thankful that my surgeon and his team didn't set a set goal for me. They asked me what my goal was which I said at 5"10" and female I wanted it to be 185. Then my NUT said we will see what your body will do. So first determine what your goal is. I too weighed 180 in high school but had a weight loss experience in college where I lost 135lbs and weighed 164lbs, the lower end of normal for my height. However, my body just could not sustain that weight loss, I got unmotivated and gained all the weight back and then some! Fast forward to 2014 when I had gastric sleeve surgery and have lost 218 lbs. I currently weigh less than my goal of 185lbs. This has been the biggest shock of all! I honestly didn't think I would achieve my goal. My idea was that I would be happy to be a size 18! I am currently a 12-14! Never in my life have I been this size! The main things I have done which I believe have really helped me are : Number one believe in yourself. Don't let negative thoughts or comments from anyone derail you. Be consistent, my NUT preaches this and it is true. Track everything you eat, this helps not only to keep track of calories, but to uncover patterns. Don't drink your calories. I think this has been a huge mantra for me. I have bad knees, which I would like to stop saying, so I will correct myself by saying my knees cannot perform to their optimal best. This could have derailed me entirely, but I just tried all different types of exercise and mix it up so as not to get bored. Some weeks are better than others in terms of how much I do. I normally try to do 3 days 60 minutes. I would like to improve on this though. Just stay active. Done sit on the couch. I used to watch hours of TV every night but now I hardly have time. Don't beat yourself up. This is not an all or nothing approach. I used to apply that approach every time I started a new diet, which would end as another failed attempt. With every meal, there is a new opportunity to improve and make a better choice. Look at what you have already accomplished! You are a success! Take a look at your original goals and decide if they are still what you would like to accomplish. If yes, then go for it, if not then re-write them and go for it! Whatever you decide know that you have many talents and gifts not determined by a number on a scale! That number on the scale does not define you! Go to your local support group and check in to this forum! I am only sorry I haven't been on more but as with many of us, we are going through our own issues and one of my issues has been that I didn't feel worthy to give any advice. So now I am on not to give advice but rather encouragement and support. Anything that I may say and share to help someone else is a personal goal of mine. Be well, take care!! Keep in touch

Got back into my fav XL shirt!!!! I was so disappointed when it got too tight last year and it's been hanging in my closet looking lonely. I decided to try it on today and I have belly and boob room! I walk and it blows in the air! Whoo hoo!!!

This evening I tried on a bunch of my old (smaller) clothes that I'd packed away. Most of them fit me now, including this dress that is a size 8! I'm still in the 12-14 range in pants, so it was a shock!

None scale victory. I'm questioning this one.
I ran into my son's friends in the grocery store. He did not recognize me until I started talking to him. He say's I looked great. Thanked him for the compliment. Suddenly I see a perplexed look on his face. He asked me if I went to a specific gym in our city. I said yes. He commented that he also is a member of the same gym. He blushed and said he had checked me out not knowing I was his friends mom. Awkward moment. But made me laugh.

151.4
I stayed off the scales this week. I had to weigh myself twice this morning. I couldn't believe my eyes. ????
Susan

I just had my sleeve done on Wednesday. I am so happy. Lots of pain Wednesday and Thursday. Hardly any now.

Honestly thesis is too strong a term LOL! It just seems to be the common thought on this board that we will never be able to eat more than 900-1200 calories even in maintenance and that isn't my experience with people I know in real life, so I was just trying to throw out there that the 1500-1800 maintenance people DO EXIST and aren't mythical unicorns LoL!

151.4
I stayed off the scales this week. I had to weigh myself twice this morning. I couldn't believe my eyes. ????
Susan

151.4
I stayed off the scales this week. I had to weigh myself twice this morning. I couldn't believe my eyes. ????
Susan